ACC Tourney Begins: NC State Game Thread
by DrB on Mar 11, 2010 12:00 PM EST
in Clemson Basketball
87 comments
N.C. State Wolfpack at Clemson Tigers, Mar 11, 2010 9:25 PM EST
Clemson Tigers (21-9, 9-7) vs. N.C. State Wolfpack (17-14, 5-11)
When: Approx. 9:30 on Raycom
Kenpom: Clemson 17, NCSU 68, Kenpom predictor says a 7pt Clemson win.
RPI: Clemson 27, NCSU 103
Leading Scorers: All-ACC F Tracy Smith (17.0ppg, 7.7rpg), F Dennis Horner (11.8ppg, 4.8 rpg), Javier Gonzalez (10 ppg, 3.8 apg)
Statistically, NCSU is behind us in pretty much every defensive category, and their offense is similarly bad statistically. They have good players inside but on the outside they are not daunting.
Looking back at our first meeting, we thoroughly dominated the woofers in the 1st half 45-28. We shot like mad (60%) and Booker ate them up early....then Stitt went down, we lost all momentum, and NC State started raining shots all over us in the 2nd half (43.8%) when our offense became stagnant and our shots stopped falling (34%, 1/10 from 3). We were in serious jeopardy of losing it at the end. Booker and Grant also had a bad time inside in the 2nd half getting any rebounds. Neither team turned the ball over that much, 11 for each.
Julius Mays put up 17 against us, Howell 13 points and 12 boards, and Smith put up 16 with 9 boards.
This time around, the big thing may again be how well we do on the boards and the battle between Booker and Smith. We didn't impress against Wake there, and NC State did very well against us the first time around, particularly in offensive rebounding.
Right now, the team seems more confident than last year heading into the ACC Tourney after blowing our shot at a 1st-rd Bye.
"We kind of stumbled into the tournament last year," sophomore guard Tanner Smith said. "We went in losing a few more games than we wanted to."
Clemson went 3-4 in its final seven regular-season games a year ago, including losses in three of its last four.
The last time Clemson finished with a 5-2 flourish - two seasons ago - the Tigers advanced to the ACC tournament title game before losing to top-ranked North Carolina 86-81.
"We did lose our last game (at Wake Forest), but we've been playing well," Smith said. "Confidence-wise, there's a big difference. Going in on a roll will be nice for us."
Demontez Stitt feels similarly
“I think that’s one the best things about this team,” said junior point guard Demontez Stitt. “We really haven’t played Clemson basketball for 40 minutes a game this year. We still have something to look forward to. If we start to put the pieces together and come together more, we’re going to be a tough team.
“That’s the exciting thing about it. We haven’t played up to our full potential. We still have a chance to go to the NCAA and make a lot of progress in the ACC Tournament.”
Defense fuels the optimism. In the last eight games, the Tigers have held their opponents under 70 points four times, and both Wake and Virginia Tech scored exactly 70.
"I think the concern in terms of turning the page from last year (was), 'How are we going to shoot it,'" Purnell said. "I said maybe we won't shoot it as well but we're a better defensive team. I believe defense wins. That's our strength. Now if we shoot it (well) to boot, which I think we're capable of doing, well we've demonstrated that time in and time out (if we do that) we’ve got a chance to get on a roll."
I've always had trouble having confidence in this team, particularly since we tend to choke in the state of NC. I think we beat NC State though.
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We have about the best bracket possible
Tigers record vs teams on our half – 6-2
Tigers record vs teams on other half – 3-5
Yes.. OP struggles in the post season to make timely adjustments during games.. that will always be something i worry about, but…. if he suddenly starts coaching when we’re struggling.. this team could make it to Sunday’s championship
Yes.. OP struggles in the post season to make timely adjustments during games.. that will always be something i worry about, but…. if he suddenly starts coaching when we’re struggling.. this team could make it to Sunday’s championshipWe can beat State if we can turn them over and just stay even on the boards
Yes.. OP struggles in the post season to make timely adjustments during games.. that will always be something i worry about, but…. if he suddenly starts coaching when we’re struggling.. this team could make it to Sunday’s championshipWe can beat State if we can turn them over and just stay even on the boardsWe’ve proven that we can beat the Noles twice already.
Yes.. OP struggles in the post season to make timely adjustments during games.. that will always be something i worry about, but…. if he suddenly starts coaching when we’re struggling.. this team could make it to Sunday’s championshipWe can beat State if we can turn them over and just stay even on the boardsWe’ve proven that we can beat the Noles twice already.We beat the Terps once already at home and then blew a 15 pt lead in the 2nd half at their place. None of these teams on paper.. should just dominate us.
Yes.. OP struggles in the post season to make timely adjustments during games.. that will always be something i worry about, but…. if he suddenly starts coaching when we’re struggling.. this team could make it to Sunday’s championshipWe can beat State if we can turn them over and just stay even on the boardsWe’ve proven that we can beat the Noles twice already.We beat the Terps once already at home and then blew a 15 pt lead in the 2nd half at their place. None of these teams on paper.. should just dominate us.thank god Duke, Wake, and Va tech on all on the other side. 0-4 this year and we dont match up well with any of them.
Yes.. OP struggles in the post season to make timely adjustments during games.. that will always be something i worry about, but…. if he suddenly starts coaching when we’re struggling.. this team could make it to Sunday’s championshipWe can beat State if we can turn them over and just stay even on the boardsWe’ve proven that we can beat the Noles twice already.We beat the Terps once already at home and then blew a 15 pt lead in the 2nd half at their place. None of these teams on paper.. should just dominate us.thank god Duke, Wake, and Va tech on all on the other side. 0-4 this year and we dont match up well with any of them.I pray we get up by around 10 and then can just maintain that size of lead for most of the evening tonight. It would help if Book decides to show up…
Does Wake Forest getting blown out by Miami prove my point...
That the ACC stinks? I believe that it does.
I would’ve loved for Wake to have won this game to improve their seeding in the NCAAT. But they are a very inconsistent, flawed team. With as much as they had on the line, they should’ve been able to blow passed Miami.
Virginia beating BC was an upset as well. UVA had lost 9 straight.
Georgia Tech looks so immensely talented against NC
Hewitt should be shot for blowing so much talent.
yeah.. but they're in the big dance now.
acc will have 7 teams announced on Sunday
disagree
beating a horrible UNC team by 4 points proves they shouldn’t be in the big dance. but what do i know. i’m an idiot.
oh wow.. this site is a little sensitve
ggggmen08 – i sincerely and respectfully disagree with your inaccurate assessment that clearly displays just your amazing lack of an understanding of college basketball.
Ga tech is in.. they are so far in they aren’t anywhere near the bubble.
Memphis, UAB, and Seton Hall all lost in their conference tourneys. The last 4 in right now are Illinois, Ariz st, SD st, and probably… either Miss or Miss st.
when you're wrong...
i’m gonna tell you.. you’re wrong.. it’s not an opinion..
it's march madness !!
i work for a company where guys debate who’s in.. and who’s out
that’s what you do this time of year.. it’s fun and no one gets hurt.
GT needs impressive wins.
All they have right now is Duke at home. Their next best win is against Clemson, and we all know that isn’t very impressive. UNC doesn’t add anything to their resume.
Please try to listen....
Some teams play games in conf tourneys that they HAVE to win to get in.
Some teams play games that they can not lose. today’s game for tech was in the latter category.
This year’s bubble is the worst in recent history.. some really bad teams will get in.. teams that have 1 win vs the RPI top 50.. or teams that have lost 5 of 6.
Teams that beat Duke.. and have 7 acc wins.. plus a win in the tourney.. get in..
I really don't care who gets in and who doesn't
Not sure why you are so concerned with GT getting in.
My point is that the ACC will be embarrassed. GT’s performance today did nothing to deter me from my statement.
it's the best part of this week...
The raging debates..
Fox sports, CBS, ESPN.. they all argue back and forth and talk about how bad the other bracketologists are.. and how great they are.. and that they’re right.. and the other guy is wrong.. that’s what’s fun. starting at 7 PM sunday night once the brackets are out.. the debate changes on who’s going to the final 4… it’s the best time of year.
Anyone know what channel this is on?
Or do I have to watch it on my computer? I’m still in Clemson if that helps.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
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Evan Lysacek: 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist ♥
I think I found it.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evan Lysacek: 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist ♥
I dont want to see anyone call anyone an idiot again.
Keep it respectful please, I put it in the rules for a reason. This place will not deteriorate into TigerNet.
Thanks.
Look at those career numbers
just imagine what he’d have done if he was more assertive and played hard every week.
I've just been waiting for that 20/10/3 year
but it never came. I really though this could be the year, but he just isn’t assertive enough to put up those kinds of numbers.
Just watch the difference in Tracy Smith and Booker’s games. Smith gets the ball and goes to the basket hard. He doesn’t wait for the double team.
God this is bad
and we need to get off Raycom, if they cant get us on a real network so everyone can watch it, then they don’t need to have the contract.
i agree...it sucks to try to stream a game with about a 45 sec delay
Clemson Sports Analysis and Insight
www.shakinthesouthland.com
we actually do ok in games like this
Games where we get up 10.. and 3s are falling like crazy.. scare me. we then settle for nothing but 3s.. and once they stop falling.. teams make big runs on us (think Villanova 2 years ago) Games like this.. where everything that can possibly go wrong on offense.. does go wrong.. and we’re down 5… we can still be ok
They asked OP what he needs to do to get the offense going...
OP: “Just make free throws”.
Are you kidding me? You really think that’s all the offense needs to get going in the 2nd half? I know that we missed a lot of FTs, but the offense was stagnant regardless.
I was watching the WVU vs Nova game on Sunday
And WVU did a great job of setting cross screens down on the low block. They would swing the ball to the wing with Wellington Smith in the post. He would turn and screen across the lane on Kevin Jones man. Jones kept getting the ball in great post position, or even get an easy layup.
Clemson never does this. They just set Booker up in the post and dump into him. If they would have him off the ball and screen across for him it would a) let him get the ball in great position and b) would be very tough to double team.
is anyone an OP apologist on here ?
At ODU, Dayton, and Clemson 0-5 in the 1st round of the big dance. The guy just cant coach in big games.
I like him but really with me you could throw pretty much anyone out there and I'd like them.
I don’t know much about coaching basketball is really what it is.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evan Lysacek: 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist ♥
by ClemsonGirl on Mar 11, 2010 10:34 PM EST up reply actions
He seems like a really good dude
just like Dabo.
I am in love with Dabo.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evan Lysacek: 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist ♥
by ClemsonGirl on Mar 11, 2010 10:39 PM EST up reply actions
i dont want a nice guy...
to coach this team..
i want a coach that fights for his teams.. gets a technical foul if the refs bend us over.. gets thrown out of games for his team.. someone these kids want to play for.. someone that these kids would not dare disappoint.. so they are going to play as hard as they possibly can for 40 minutes..
you dont get that from “nice guys”
I agree with you
But I was saying from her perspective of someone that doesn’t know what makes a good coach, OP and Dabo would be easy to like.
I'd like someone who did that too if we won.
If we started losing, it would be real easy to turn on them.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evan Lysacek: 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist ♥
by ClemsonGirl on Mar 11, 2010 11:07 PM EST up reply actions
clemson coaching
Tommy bowden was the world’s nicest guy… but i hated him as a coach
dabo has a lot of fire in him.. i would love to play for him
rick barnes had fire.. i cant tell you how many games he got thrown out of when i was in school
i have never seen OP get a technical foul.. not one.
See I didn't really like Tommy Bowden. I don't know why.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evan Lysacek: 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist ♥
by ClemsonGirl on Mar 11, 2010 11:21 PM EST up reply actions
Potter needs to figure out how to get his body under him before he takes those 3s.
by OrangeBritches on Mar 11, 2010 10:42 PM EST reply actions
Yeah..he catches it low and leaning forward and still shoots like that
You can tell when he catches and releases that it won’t have much of a chance.
Have any of you guys seen film on Ryan Harrow
NC State’s PG recruit?
He is ridiculous.
I rarely keep up with basketball recruiting
its too spaced out with the signing periods and lack of news for me to remember things.
its something we might start following later when the site picks up more and we add writers
The Wake Forest and Maryland blogs do a better job than me with bball recruiting.
If you need help with basketball recruiting
I follow it pretty closely.
We may be talking to you about that
but youre welcome to write a Fanpost about it anytime you like. I’ll move them to the front page occasionally.
Someone was asking about who we are recruiting for 2010
the other day. I should’ve just turned it into a fanpost
Go to youtube and type in Ryan Harrow
The guy is 5’11 and 155 lbs, but if he were a little bit bigger he’d be compared to John Wall. His skills and athleticism are that good.
I cant wait til booker is gone
he stopped caring about 10 games ago
1-6 FTs and 5 turnovers.. mentally.. he has checked out.
I was trying to tell the FSU blog
the other day that we wouldn’t miss Trevor Booker as much as others think we will. A lot of people that don’t watch Clemson every game think Booker is more important to this team than he really is.
i loved him as a freshman
playing w Mays, Cliff, and KC..
he wasn’t “the guy” he was aggressive.. blocked shots.. played with passion.
i dont know where that guy went.
Booker's biggest problem
is a lack of mental toughness. When his offensive game is ever stifled, his defense goes into the tank too, and he gets discouraged and lethargic out there.
that's the exact opposite
of what a leader should be.
St.... NC st..
shooting 53% against us.. wasn’t OP all blah blah blah.. we may not always be able to score but we are a defense first team… blah blah blah..
horrible.. horrible.. in game coach… i dont care if he’s a nice guy.. he chokes when it counts.
he pouts..
if he doesnt get the big dunk.. or the flashy play.. his head get’s f’d up.
next year might be ugly…
Stitt, Tanner, Noel, Devin, Jerai.
yikes…
I think next year will be around a 9-7 year
We lack a star player, but Stitt will be a great leader as a senior. Having Young as another experienced guard is big too.
I expect Jennings to make a big jump next year. I see flashes of how good he can be, but I think he is held back by nerves and the fear of making mistakes.
And Devin Booker has a pretty solid game and plays with a lot of energy.
If Tanner works on a few things
I think we could get him to a 10ppg guy. He lacks talent but has a work ethic. He needs a jump shot, and to work on his dribbling alot, but he could be more servicable.
it doesnt matter
OP cant win in march.
2 of my best friends went to Dayton.. they warned me about him.. they were right.
insert fork into this team
hello 10 seed and 1st round loss. thanks book.
what do you expect from OP in the acc tourney..
last 4 years
1st round loss
1st round bye – bc win/ duke win
1st round loss
1st round loss
i’m seeing a pattern here… 2008.. probably a fluke..
The lack of emotion and passion is getting old.
They need serious help on offensive X’s and O’s, but at least they could come out and play like they care that it is the ACC tournament.
Clemson couldn't afford to let them waste 30 secs there.
That’s like mis-managing timeouts in football.
And they were coming out of a timeout. OP should've told them.
With 1 min left and down 5 it is a no brainer.
I've played my entire life
I had a great coach.. and an awful coach
OP has a lot of the same traits.. as the awful one
Can't even get a defensive rebound.
It looked like they didn’t even realize it was a 1-1.
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